Kate has been surprised at what close friends Bibi and I have become despite the language barrier. However, everyone is drawn to Bibi from the first flash of her 1000 kw smile.
One time I asked Bibi about her family. I knew 4 of her grandchildren were orphans at Angel House. I also knew 3 sets of parents were represented by these kids. Bibi told me she'd mothered 7 children and buried 5 of them.
Shocked, I exclaimed, "Oh, Bibi! I'm so sorry!"
Bibi replied, "If I only had one child left, that would be enough for me." That is our Bibi. She doesn't have time for self-pity because she's too full of gratitude.
Bibi faces each situation with faith. One Sabbath, I told her my back hurt and I was having trouble sitting in church. She is an RN, and wanted to take me to get a malaria test immediately. I told her I couldn't go to the doctor without my medical paperwork, but I'd go soon. Several days later after I'd been diagnosed, Bibi said she'd known what I had, and she'd been praying extra hard for me.
When I told Bibi that her granddaughter (and namesake) had called for my help when she got into deep water at a swimming pool on our Mwanza trip, tears flowed down my cheeks.
As I struggled to keep Leah from pulling me under, I kept thinking, "How can I tell Bibi that I've lost her granddaughter?"
Just as I thought I was going to have to knock Leah out so I could rescue her, I was able to put my head above water and choke out, "Help!"
The next thing I knew, I was at the shallow end of the pool with Leah
and 4 people were telling us to take big breaths.
Bibi just smiled after she heard my story, saying, "God is good. He heard your prayers."
You never know who you'll meet when you go to a new place, but I can tell you this: My life would have been incomplete if I hadn't met Bibi Leah. I want to be just like her when I grow up.
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